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Police find no evidence of gunfire that placed South Dakota hospital on lockdown

ABERDEEN, S.D. — Police say what was reported earlier as an active shooter disturbance at Sanford Medical Center was not a shooting, as investigators found no evidence of shots having been fired Thursday morning, Sept. 6.

Eyewitness accounts suggested there were up to three shots fired on the second floor of the hospital in Aberdeen, but investigators say the noises people heard were likely caused by a suspect banging on something.

One man is in custody and has yet to be identified by the Aberdeen Police Department or Brown County Sheriff’s Office.

The hospital and surrounding businesses were placed on lockdown, according to media reports, but a statement from Sanford said the hospital is back to normal operations.

“There was a potential threat which has been cleared. No patients or bystanders were injured,” the statement read. “We are caring for patients. The emergency room is open. People should continue to come to their appointments. We are grateful for the quick response from law enforcement and our own staff members. We have no further information at this time.”

The incident happened at about 9 a.m. The Aberdeen American News reports patients and employees who were evacuated were being let back into the building by 10 a.m.

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